Crank up Beyonce’s ‘Single Ladies’ – it’s Feb. 14 again.

Yesterday in Hendricks Chapel I overheard two girls discussing their weekend plans. One of them revealed that this would be her first single Valentine’s Day in three years. She said she planned to hibernate with excessive amounts of chocolate to cope.

Before you start debating if the cashier at CVS will know if you’re buying the Russell Stover candies for yourself, stop overreacting about being alone this holiday.

With all the hand-holding, gift-buying and outrageous public displays of affection, it may feel like you’re the only single lady (or man) on Valentine’s Day. Trust me, you’re not. Whether you savor your single status or are less than tickled pink, there’s no reason to feel left out this holiday. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 95.7 million single Americans. They might not all be at Carousel Mall for the evening showing of ‘Valentine’s Day,’ but they’re out there.

Back in the days of Ashlee Simpson and the Ying Yang Twins, my first real boyfriend asked me out at the school’s Valentine’s Day dance. He had roses and I wore pink. It was precious, or nauseating. Label as you see fit. For the next few years, I always had perfect Valentine’s Days, complete with candlelit dinners, cards, flowers, candy … the works. I pitied those poor single people left alone with nothing but their Necco candy hearts.

And then, my freshman year, I was one of them.

I thought my first real single Valentine’s Day was going to be the worst experience ever. The night of the 14th came around and I celebrated by dancing around my dorm before embarking on a sledding expedition on the hill behind Sadler Hall (without a coat or a real sled).

I woke up the next morning with a cold, no phone and a killer headache. It was the best Valentine’s Day I have ever had. I loved every minute of the time spent with my friends, and it’s one of my favorite memories of college. Hangovers will pass, puke can be cleaned and you know you wanted a cell phone upgrade anyway. I’ve now had Valentine’s Days both single and in a relationship, and in my opinion, single makes a much better story.

As long as you’re upbeat about your weekend, I’m sure you can find ways to enjoy V-Day even with your single Facebook status. An article in Cosmopolitan called ‘Fun Ways to Celebrate Yourself on Valentine’s Day’ suggests going out to a fancy restaurant for dessert … by yourself. But, before you start making reservations in Armory Square, let’s think this through. Not only would you be stuffing your face alone surrounded by dozens of happy couples, you’ll also probably have to wait two hours to get your table, and at the end of the whole embarrassing ordeal, you’re going to be the one to pick up the tab. I don’t think I can imagine a worse way to spend my Saturday night.

Instead of taking part in ridiculous activities like this or wallowing in misery alone in your dorm room, go to the bar. Not only are you likely to have fun with your friends, but you’ll also know that every person you meet is available, too. Being single on Valentine’s Day might just be the best way to find yourself a bad romance, if only for the night.

Courtney Egelston is a senior magazine journalism and political science major. Her column appears weekly, and she can be reached at cbegelst@syr.edu.

Published on February 10, 2010 at 12:00 pm